Littlemissbashful: In both these stories the murders revolve around the mystery of uncovered prehistoric skeletal remains that threaten the accepted view of early American history and set off a chain reaction of academic in-fighting, money grabbing, cultural politics and murder. Although the two series these books are from are completely different in style they both feature strong local settings and native cultures trying to balance tradition and heritage with the pressures of progress, economics and tourism: Doss in Colorado with the Ute indians and Bowen in Montana with the French Métis and beleaguered generations of hard bitten ranchers. The books also feature Shamen both real and false but the mythology and mysticism do not overpower the stories and it is left open as to whether the visionary elements are made manifest or merely imagined.… (more)

An enjoyable series continues. Charley and his crotchety aunt are delightful and the two munchkins, that bedevil her, deserve to be continued. Convoluted plots and counterplots sustain interest to the very end. Archeological artifacts and their surrounding discoveries and disposition leaven the story nicely ( )

Enjoyable series. I think the whole series averages out to a four star review. Less serious than Tony Hillerman, more so than Carl Hiaasen. The locale, as with most of these Southwestern mystery novels, is a real part of the draw! If Daisy Perika's old homestead were real and being offered to me, I would be packing my bags instead of pecking away at this computer.

The characters are likeable, the stories interesting (especially the first ten or so) if occasionally a liitle over the top. Mr. Doss includes just a touch of the supernatural, that I usually find attractive. All in all I find the stories wonderfully escapist.. all that I look for in fiction. While not necessary, I would recommend reading the stories in order if possible. ( )

Wikipedia in English

The world of Daisy Perika ia a realm of shadows, omens, and restless spirits. In tribal policeman Charlie Moon's world, good and evil manifest themselves in more explainable, human ways. Yet the irascible old Ute shaman and her huge, good-natured nephew inhabit the same hard and lonely Colorado country. And now the parched earth has yielded up the remains of a gargantuan prehistoric beast on the site of a failed dude ranch--a find of enormous scientific importance that is attracting the attention of a wide variety of inividuals, some eminent and seemingly scrupulous...other obviously neither. Moon is also curious about the strange old bones. For things this ancient and rare have been known to inspire malevolent deeds in the past, including avarice, lies...and murder. And all it takes is one mysterious disappearance and one very suspicious death to convince Charlie Moon that his greatest fears have just been realized.

Charlie Moon of the Southern Ute Police Department investigates a disappearance that seems to be connected to a mammoth skeleton unearthed on a local dude ranch. Charlie's aunt, a shaman, is haunted by a spiritual muystery.